Lake St Clair as base for multi day activities

[GPSGuided]

To the good Tassie folks and all, I'd appreciate some planning suggestions for walking and other activities when based at Lake St Clair. For this Xmas holidays, we are thinking of taking an outdoor holiday. Between NZ and Tassie, looks like Tassie is winning this round. Given the likings of my family members, I'm thinking of using St Clair Lodge/Campground as a base for 4-6 days and then explore the surrounding area (did the Cradle Mtn end a few years ago). So the question in my mind are,

1) What are the day walks to consider? What I can think of are,
- Mr Rufus track
- Lake St Clare/OLT to Narcissus Hut (does this require a pass?)
- Frenchmans Cap Track to Loddon River

2) How many days should I plan for? Presently we have a max of 5-6 days whilst leaving a day on either end to travel from and back to Hobart for our flights. Is it worth staying 5-6 days for the available activities? Or would we make better use of the available days to share with another worthy location? Haven't quite considered multi-day walks as I am not sure of the availability of supplies upon arrival in HBT on the 24th.

3) Does anyone know the difference b/n the powered and unpowered sites at that campground? Obviously we are interested in a pleasant setting. My understanding of powered sites tends to be cramped and neighboured by big 4WDs and caravans and wondered if it's the same here.

Separately, if one was to visit Mt Ann, where's the nearest hotel/motel accommodation to use as a base? Or should we just use Hobart as the base to access Mt Ann area?

Thanks for info and ideas.

[frenchy_84]

The best walk you could do is 2 nights at pine valley hut. Ferry along the lake then walk the 2 hours to pine valley, in afternoon climb Acropolis. Next day walk in to the labyrinth next day walk out with ferry. If your not keen for overnight, my Rufus is a nice day walk, so is mt King William I. Mount arrowsmith is a short off track (but open buttongrass) walk which gives great views of all the surrounding ranges. I wouldn't bother walking the frenchmans track just to turn around at the lodden, you would be better off doing short walks like donahy hill and Nelson falls.
For mt Anne, Apparantly strathgordon lodge is operating you can also camp in a number of areas, it can also be done as a day walk from hobart but it is a big day.
As far as supplies for overnight walking, I would think the only thing u can't fly with it stove fuel which you will be able to get at lake at Clair

[GPSGuided]

Thanks Frenchy_84! Great. Sounds like there's going to be more than enough to fill 5-6 days just around Lake St Clair. Dilemma time and considering delaying the date of the return flight...

- Have done Nelson Falls a few years ago. That was pretty short, a drive through. On Mt Arrowsmith, is there a good starting point off Lyell Hwy? Or just make a personal call?
- Going to Acropolis via Lake St Clair, does one need an OLT or some kind of pass?

[stepbystep]

- Going to Acropolis via Lake St Clair, does one need an OLT or some kind of pass?

No OLT pass just a national parks pass which you'll need for any of the other walks anyway. King William I is an excellent suggestion, once up top it's well worth exploring across to Pitt/Milligan. Very easy offtrack walking. Arrowsmith, meh if you do KW1 I wouldn't bother. The Acropolis is fantastic as is The Labyrinth.
The Rufus Circuit is excellent. There is also Little Hugel as a well tracked option. The walk from Narcissus to Cynthia Bay is really nice too. Further afield is things like the Bird River Track, Mt Owen or the Jukes Range near Queesnstown or back towards Hobart Wylds Craig, and, and...have a great trip!

[GPSGuided]

Thanks SBS. You two have pretty much confirmed there's more than enough to explore at this single location for the full duration of our stay. Now just need to work out a plan along with the available accommodation. Planning to camp early and then a night or two at the lodge before the return to relax and clean up the gears.

[GPSGuided]

Another question. Is there a defined track b/n Cynthia Bay and Lake Petrarch along Cuvier River? Is camping there allowed? I note that the "tourist map" on PWS' site has a track marked but not on LISTmap. Is it an off track section?

[stepbystep]

Another question. Is there a defined track b/n Cynthia Bay and Lake Petrarch along Cuvier River? Is camping there allowed? I note that the "tourist map" on PWS' site has a track marked but not on LISTmap. Is it an off track section?

I walked this 'track' just a few weeks ago, it's a pita especially in wet weather. It's either overgrown, a buttongrass bog or difficult to follow. A real big thumbs down to PWS for not committing to maintain this track. The camping at Petrach is excellent if you get there.

[GPSGuided]

Thanks for the local knowledge SBS. Excess mud and leeches are no nos for the other members of the family or they'll never come to the Tassie outdoors with me again.

What I am thinking now is,

Day 1: HBT -> Cynthia Bay. Purchase supply. Walk to Shadow Lake and camp.
Day 2: Explore Mt Rufus via the loop and return to Shadow Lake. Pull camp and return to Cynthia Bay.
Day 3: Ferry up to Narcissus -> Pine Valley. Camp. Explore Acropolis.
Day 4: Explore Labyrinth and return Cynthia Bay via Ferry.
Day 5:
Day 6:
Day 7:
Day 8: Fly out of HBT.

More days to fill and no knowing what the weather will be like. Hard to plan contingency should the weather turn nasty except to squeeze back to the rental car.

[frenchy_84]

I would have a full day in the labyrinth and return to Cynthia bay the following day, you don't want to rush in the labyrinth, it's pretty special.

[GPSGuided]

Got it.

Day 1: HBT -> Cynthia Bay. Purchase supply. Explore surrounding.
Day 2: Ferry up to Narcissus -> Pine Valley. Camp. Explore Acropolis.
Day 3: Explore Labyrinth.
Day 4: Return to Cynthia Bay via ferry or walk.
Day 5: Walk to Shadow Lake. Camp. Explore surround.
Day 6: Explore Mt Rufus. Pull camp. Return to Cynthia Bay.
Day 7:
Day 8: Fly out of HBT (evening).

Any further comments and suggestions? Still have D7 to fill. Maybe that's a good day for King William I or make an early return to Hobart and elsewhere.

[tastrax]

Just make sure those supply purchases are in Hobart! Not a lot of choice beyond Hobart / New Norfolk for decent walking type tucker.

[GPSGuided]

Thanks Tastrax for the red flag. An emerging problem is that we'll be arriving on Christmas Day. Fingers crossed that Lake St Clair Lodge/Visitor Centre sell standard fuel canisters if there are no shops open in Hobart. Petrol stations along the way?

[ILUVSWTAS]

Petrol stations along the way?

Fill up before you leave New Norfolk or you may have issues.

Also regarding mud and leeches, both are unavoidable no matter where you are in Tassie, so i'd be bracing the other members you speak of to prepare for some minor encounters.... both are extremely harmless though.

[GPSGuided]

Thanks ILSWT! I certainly will be filling up car fuel whenever possible. But my earlier intent was in relation to fuel stoves, hoping that some petrol stations may stock them.

As for ticks and leeches, we'll I think I'll need to pour a bottle of DEET on them... It's ok, they are tougher than what they verbalise.

[GPSGuided]

In the meantime, I note that on OSM, the north-west section of Mr Rufus circuit and Mt King William I track were absent. Well, the void has been filled now. Waiting for their updated Garmin compatible img file...

[Scottyk]

Thanks Tastrax for the red flag. An emerging problem is that we'll be arriving on Christmas Day. Fingers crossed that Lake St Clair Lodge/Visitor Centre sell standard fuel canisters if there are no shops open in Hobart. Petrol stations along the way?

I was at the Lake St Claire visitors about a month ago and they had standard 200gm canisters then but only 2-3 on the shelf. I would ring ahead rather than rely on them

[GPSGuided]

I was at the Lake St Claire visitors about a month ago and they had standard 200gm canisters then but only 2-3 on the shelf. I would ring ahead rather than rely on them

That's really interesting because I've spoken to the staffs there, including the manager twice and they said that they do not stock these canisters. Presently I have a private offer from a fellow BWA member to assist (with much thanks) as well as a potential source from the general store in Bronte Park. I think this Xmas day supply issue can be solved.

[Scottyk]

Maybe they war just left overs from overland track walkers who had left them there after completing the track? They were in the shelf. A lot of OLT guys over budget on gas and maybe they let them leave them behind?

[GPSGuided]

Can't say what you saw but speaking to a hotel manager, she said that OLT folk indeed often dump canisters before their departure from the area and she is happy to pass them on to me. However, there's no guarantee of supply and I can't depend on them being available. For the local folks, just collecting all the full/half-full canisters for further use would be worthwhile and be good for the environment. I wonder if such is the case?

[Scottyk]

yeah, Narcissus and Pine Valley Huts also had left over OLT walker canisters also when I was there

[Tortoise]

Got it.

Day 1: HBT -> Cynthia Bay. Purchase supply. Explore surrounding.
Day 2: Ferry up to Narcissus -> Pine Valley. Camp. Explore Acropolis.
Day 3: Explore Labyrinth.
Day 4: Return to Cynthia Bay via ferry or walk.
Day 5: Walk to Shadow Lake. Camp. Explore surround.
Day 6: Explore Mt Rufus. Pull camp. Return to Cynthia Bay.
Day 7:
Day 8: Fly out of HBT (evening).

Any further comments and suggestions? Still have D7 to fill. Maybe that's a good day for King William I or make an early return to Hobart and elsewhere.

How about stay another night at Shadow Lake and do Little Hugel +/- Hugel on day 7?
Edit: or maybe Little Hugel is part of 'explore surround' on Day 5.

[GPSGuided]

yeah, Narcissus and Pine Valley Huts also had left over OLT walker canisters also when I was there

Ummm... Maybe I should bring a canister fuel transfer gadget.

[GPSGuided]

How about stay another night at Shadow Lake and do Little Hugel +/- Hugel on day 7?
Edit: or maybe Little Hugel is part of 'explore surround' on Day 5.

Thought about staying an extra night at Shadow Lake but our schedule is a little constrained by the accommodation availability there at the lodge. For what's it worth, the rest of the family "needs" a bit more pampering and we can get a room at the end of D6 while D7 is completely booked out. So staying an extra night at Shadow Lake would leave us with nowhere to go apart from another night in the tent. I won't mind but I may be faced with a revolt. But you did give me an idea. I think I'll call the manager tomorrow and see if a room has come available for D7 as their online room availability listing is not always 100% accurate. If so, your suggestion of 2 nights at Shadow Lake would work well. In any case, I prefer 2 nights at a camp site. Daily setup gets a bit painful.

Yes, Hugel is on the "explore" list. Any suggestion on anything special to look out for?